NEW: Venice wants to know costs to demolish Circus Arena

Published: Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 6:07 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 6:07 p.m.

VENICE - The Venice City Council wants to know the costs associated with three options for the condemned Circus Arena that the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus abandoned more than two decades ago.

The city will put out request for proposals for:

• The cost of total demolition.

• The cost of partial demolition to get rid of structurally flawed parts of the building, asbestos and lead paint — leaving a “skeleton” of steel framework and a concrete slab that a developer could use to start construction of a new building on the site.

• The cost of partial demolition and remodeling of the building by the city.

When those bids come in, “that’s decision time, as far as I’m concerned,” said council member Emilio Carlesimo, who voted with the majority in the 6-1 decision Tuesday.

Council member Jeanette Gates cast the dissenting vote, expressing concerns that the partial demolition option could still leave a structure that still violates building codes.

On Feb. 12, Building and Code Enforcement Director Vince LaPorta described the arena as “an unsafe, dangerous building.” He gave the city 60 days to come up with a plan to restore it or he will have it demolished.

Three years ago, the city delayed demolition to give the nonprofit Venice Circus Arts Foundation an opportunity to raise enough money to restore the arena. As of this week, the foundation has $40,000.

The arena is on property owned by the municipal airport. The Federal Aviation Administration says that, if the airport collected “fair market value” for the property visible from the South Tamiami Trail, it could should get about $461,000 annually.

<p><em>VENICE</em> - The Venice City Council wants to know the costs associated with three options for the condemned Circus Arena that the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus abandoned more than two decades ago.</p><p>The city will put out request for proposals for:</p><p>• The cost of total demolition.</p><p>• The cost of partial demolition to get rid of structurally flawed parts of the building, asbestos and lead paint — leaving a “skeleton” of steel framework and a concrete slab that a developer could use to start construction of a new building on the site.</p><p>• The cost of partial demolition and remodeling of the building by the city.</p><p>When those bids come in, “that's decision time, as far as I'm concerned,” said council member Emilio Carlesimo, who voted with the majority in the 6-1 decision Tuesday.</p><p>Council member Jeanette Gates cast the dissenting vote, expressing concerns that the partial demolition option could still leave a structure that still violates building codes.</p><p>On Feb. 12, Building and Code Enforcement Director Vince LaPorta described the arena as “an unsafe, dangerous building.” He gave the city 60 days to come up with a plan to restore it or he will have it demolished.</p><p>Three years ago, the city delayed demolition to give the nonprofit Venice Circus Arts Foundation an opportunity to raise enough money to restore the arena. As of this week, the foundation has $40,000.</p><p>The arena is on property owned by the municipal airport. The Federal Aviation Administration says that, if the airport collected “fair market value” for the property visible from the South Tamiami Trail, it could should get about $461,000 annually.</p>